Overriding value of 'hosts' playbook variable

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1

Hi guys,

Anyone know if you can completely override the hosts: value in a playbook?

I don’t use inventory files so I always just have this set to ‘all’. But when I call a playbook from another playbook like this, for example:

Playbook1

  • name: Format EBS volumes
    hosts: ec2_group # coming from the ec2 module and add_host
    …

  • include: playbook2.yml hosts=ec2_group

or

  • { include: playbook2.yml, hosts: ec2_group }

It works but then it also tries to run the playbook to the ‘all’ group (which is everything in my default hosts file). I want the ‘all’ value to be completely overridden by the new value I specified.

Is there a better way to do this without creating an inventory file?

Thanks

2

I don’t think what you want to do is override a value at runtime, but rather create a new group dynamically at runtime. Make a new group for hosts that meet some arbitrary criteria. See the group_by module – I think you’ll find what you’re looking for there.

3

I’m confused by this as well.

When you say you are not using an inventory file, do you mean you are using the dynamic inventory plugin?

If you want a group that contains just the new hosts you have brought online, or want to add new hosts (in memory) to an existing host name, look at how the “add_host” plugin is used in various examples – it does exactly this.